Episodes
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There are 3 places students get stuck in VSEPR:
They never learn electron domainThey get confused on how many electrons to put in the modelThey confuse electron and molecular geometryIf you'd like to know how to fix or prevent those, then listen to the episodes.
Intro to VSEPR worksheet -
Big Red Science gives us so many tips, including
Why you shouldn't teach safety at the beginning of the school yearA way to save money with bath bomb labs and a variation that helps students understand what they are doing labHow to emphasize the purpose of lab with studentsCommon mistakes teachers make with labsA faster way to grade labs through focused assignmentsBig Red Science Website
Big Red Science TpT Store
Instagram @bigredscience -
Episodes manquant?
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How important is electron domain? Why do students bomb this easiest question on the VSEPR test? In today's episode, you'll learn a quick (and colorful) way to teach electron domain.
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This podcast is doing 3 month seasons, so join back Feb 6th, 2023 for the next episode.
In the meantime, DM me at CoscineCreative or email me at [email protected] on Instagram to let me know what you want to hear next year. -
If you need a lab, or a way to interest your students in chemistry...instead of the upcoming break, this is the lab you should try. With the appropriate glassware, of course.
Want to see the lab? -
Does the Order You Teach Chemistry in Matter? It does, but not in the way you think. Listen to this episode to learn the 4 most common ways to teach chemistry in (and which teaching situation you should use them in.)
Want to read instead of listen? Here's the blog post.
Send me an email at [email protected] and let me know what order you teach in and how it works for you. -
What's missing in the typical lesson discussing Orbital Diagrams? It's not color coding. It's not something you'll find in any textbook.
You will find the answer in this super quick podcast and in this blog post.
Scroll to #4 if you want to see my color coding scheme. -
Everyone needs to keep an "In Case of Emergency" teaching plan. For when you were so tired from the weekend you fell asleep on the couch and didn't get up until Monday's alarm?
History of the periodic table 0:52Families 1:22Groups 2:40 PeriodsTransition metals 3:33Charges 4:26Cations and anions 5:39Periods 6:35Quantum blocks 7:09 Valence electrons 7:30
Oops.
But that's where these periodic table lesson plans come in. But, you don't need to buy the doodle notes unless you want everything done and ready for you. I included a free periodic table for you too.
But really, what can you teach with just a periodic table?
Periodic Table Doodle Notes (Includes pages for all of the above lessons)
FREE Periodic Tables (In different sizes and multiple tables per page.) -
This week on the podcast we have a mother daughter duo. Angela and Ashley teach us:
Why as science teachers we should be open to changing our curriculum order
How chocolate soap will teach lab rules for us
What we should do to interest our students in chemical careers
How PowerPoint will effortlessly translate your lectures
Why they start their chemistry course with thermochemistry
...and so much more.
Facebook groups Angela likes:
National Chemistry Teachers
NGSS Chemistry Teachers
Butterfly Pea Tea Lab -
Are you looking for a fun way you can teach quantum numbers? One that requires nearly no prep on your part? This is it. We have students relate quantum numbers to a coffee mug.
Start by having students take out a sheet of paper and labeling n, l, ml, and ms along the left side. Then you'll use a coffee mug as a tangible analogy to describe the orbital the electron is in.
The best part of this lesson is when you walk around and tell students what their mug looks like and where it is. Don't forget to take a little creative license with this! ("Does your mother know you left your dirty cup in the sink for her?!")
It's interactive, engaging, and entertaining. Quantum numbers doesn't get more memorable than this.
Links mentioned that make teaching quantum numbers easy
Blog post on Quantum Coffee
Quantum Number Doodle Notes
Step by Step Quantum Number Worksheet
Quantum Numbers Charts and Diagrams
Quantum Numbers Digital Activity
FREE Quantum Numbers video -
Why do chemistry students forget significant figures? Because they are so confusing to apply. But, not if you explain it using the word "specific" and break them down into 4 simple types of significant figures.
These are specifically measured. Not ballparked or guestimated.
Sandwiched zeros (Not hostage or captive zeros. Why? Listen to the episode. )Trailing zeros with a decimal
These are specifically measured. Not ballparked or guestimated.Trailing zeros without a decimal
These are estimated. An educated guess. So we can't know what the exact number was.Leading zeros
These could have been measured or guestimated. No one knows because they are placeholder zeros. So we assume they are not specific and are not significant.
Labeling Significant Figures Worksheet and Activity <<<Teach students this effortlessly -
Why do students mix up cations and anions? It turns out that if you start super simple, it will make more sense to students. Students need to learn cations are positive. And that anions are negative. Theeeeennnnn, jump into why cations are cations and why anions are anions.
Giving students the why too soon will confuse them.
Here's the blank periodic table and cation worksheet I referenced in the podcast.
You can see all the cation and anion images I was referencing in this blog link.
Cation Anion Doodle Notes
Periodic Table Doodle Notes -
Have you ever wondered if there is another or better way to teach chemistry? Does everyone start school in August?
Stacy explains how science is structured in Australia and in Scotland. For example, there are 2 week breaks every 10 weeks in Australia, which Stacy explains helps with burnout. Australia also starts school in January.
Scotland also gets more breaks than the United States.
Stacy talks about the differences in teaching chemistry between the two countries. In Scotland, they start off talking more about the atom and periodic table.
8:30 Reference to the next interview in October
9:00 Stacy's science lab that uses cricket flour cookies
10:30 A lesson about seeing what does a mole look like in real life
13:30 Debunking a teaching myth in the US
Blog post on chemistry teachers including their hobbies to teach. Scroll down to 2/3rd the way down the page.
Stacy's Instagram Page ----> DM her sometime. She's super sweet and has so many great ideas. -
Do you need a memorable way for students to learn how to find protons, neutrons, and electrons? So many students get stuck on not knowing where the numbers are coming from. But after this lesson, your students will know where the numbers are coming from AND be able to calculate protons and neutrons.
The best part is that this appeals to all of your students and not just those who "get" math.This episode will help you use color coding as a strategy to help students remember the subatomic particle lesson.
Previous episode on color coding protons, neutrons, and electrons.
FREE DOODLE NOTES >>> As mentioned in the episode, you can sign up here to get the free 12 page packet of doodle notes that will help you save time teaching this lesson. And students will say it makes the most sense ever. -
Do you need a fun way to teach protons, neutrons, and electrons? Something new and different? Something that students’ will remember. Something fun that isn't just a plain boring table in a worksheet they fill out across several rows?
This episode will help you use color coding as a strategy to help students remember the subatomic particle lesson.
FREE DOODLE NOTES >>> As mentioned in the episode, you can sign up here to get the free 12 page packet of doodle notes that will help you save time teaching this lesson. And students will say it makes the most sense ever. -
Have you ever wanted teaching high school chemistry to be more fun or easier? In this episode you'll learn:
Why this podcast will help you become a better teacher each week
The REAL reason I created this podcast
How listening each week will help you save time lesson planning
In the meantime, if you want more teaching tips and inspiration, check out my website at www.coscinecreative.com.
